Insight and Ideas

We begin the day with the void-of-course moon in Virgo so we feel like we have gotten off to something of a slow start today!

The moon moves into Libra at 9:59 AM and this is what really gets our day started. Libra moon is peace-loving and artistic, the natural diplomat of the zodiac. Libra is an air sign so loves ideas and communication.

Our only aspect today is a square from the moon to Venus. If you have to urge to express yourself creatively I say go for it! We can be creative in a lot of ways … how we dress, what we write, how we decorate, the things we say, not to mention arts and crafts! This aspect helps us to work through any creative blocks in order to start a new creative project, if we have the drive to get it going.

A good stone to work with today is rose quartz which promotes harmony in relationships and also peace of mind.

An essential oil to use today is lemon which will help give us a fresh start after the long void-of-course at the start of the day.

The moon is in perfectionist Virgo today. Virgo sometimes gets a bad rap for being overly critical but the truth is they notice what is wrong in order to fix things. They want to make everything perfect!

The moon makes a trine aspect to Venus which perfects at 4:50 AM. This is a subtle and harmonious aspects that has a feminine vibe … nurturing, comforting, motherly, sensitive.

The moon opposed Neptune at 2:52 PM which is a minor aspect but still has us feeling like we are confronting our own delusions. Have you ever wanted something to be true so badly that you convinced yourself that is was true when it really wasn't? That is the danger of Neptune … be careful you are deluding yourself.

The moon makes a supportive sextile to Mars which peaks at 11:12 PM. This is an active aspect that has us wanting to “do something”. Running, cleaning (the moon is in Virgo, after all), sex, anything is good, as long as it gets our blood flowing!

A good stone to work with today is bloodstone which helps is do that thing that Ram Dass talked about in “Be Here Now”.

An essential oil to consider for today is German chamomile which puts us in touch with the Virgo moon through it's ability to cultivate organization in our lives.

The moon remains in a long void-of-course phase all throughout the day and until late this evening. This is not the best placement for the moon to be in on a Monday morning! The void-of-course moon has us feeling a bit restless and maybe wanting to just float through the day. If you are feeling this way, just know tomorrow will be different. If you can have a lazy Monday then lucky you – this is the day to relax and enjoy the status quo. If you have to press on, just do it with ease and try not to fight against the grain too hard.

Mercury stations at 14 degrees of Capricorn before turning back in the direct moving fashion. This station is a time when Mercury retrograde is at its height. If you were born about January 5th this will be affecting you probably more than others, as that is about the placement of 14 degrees of Capricorn, give or take a day. At 4:50 PM Mercury finally goes direct and we can all take a nice deep breath! Mercury retrograde is a time when communication can be challenging and we are given the opportunity to internalize our thoughts and mind, so if you have been feeling a bit silenced for the past 3 weeks this is likely going to change. When Mercury goes direct again, we regain our usual mind and stop being so internal with our thoughts.

The moon finally shifts out of the void-of-course phase at 10:46 PM when she moves into the sign of Virgo. Virgo moon has us looking at the world around us with a critical eye. We may want to try and fix all the things that are “wrong” in our lives with that inner Virgo critic on the loose. Just remember, everything happens for a reason and try not to worry too much while you are at it. Do yourself a favor and use this energy for doing something constructive such as cleaning or organizing things around your office or home.

Jasper would be an excellent gemstone to work with today. Allowing you to feel grounded in yourself and connected to the Virgo moon this evening.

A good oil for today is cinnamon which helps us feel more powerful. Cinnamon also provides beneficial energy and practicality to help with some of the other energies of the day.

The moon enters the sign of Cancer early this morning, which is where she feels at her best. The moon governs over the sign of Cancer so she is at home here. Cancer moon has us wanting to eat something that is soul nurturing, what feeds your soul? You might also want t nurture your body and senses while you are at it.

The moon in Cancer makes a harmonious trine to Neptune in Pisces which perfects at 10:53 PM. This has us feeling friendly, romantic and sweet. It is a good night to spend some time with friends or family. This would be a nice supporting aspect for having fun and feeling at home wherever you are or whatever you are doing.

Amethyst would be an excellent gemstone to work with today, with all the soft energies that are present. This would help inspire your third eye and intuition to be open even more.

Vanilla is a great essential oil to work with today, giving you a cozy feeling that is warm and familiar feeling.

Happy Wednesday! We have the moon in curious, active Gemini. Gemini loves to learn new things and to test out new ideas … but they are known to have a short attention span as well.

Early morning the moon opposes Saturn which perfects at 2:54 AM. This aspect often brings a feeling of loneliness or isolation so if this is how you are feeling then don't worry, it is a temporary feeling, and this too shall pass.

The moon and Uranus make a soft sextile which peaks at 9:23 AM. This combination supports spontaneity and doing things in a way that tends to go against the norm. But is also gives us a bounce in our step. Enjoy it!

The sun enters eccentric, electric Aquarius at 10:27 AM. Aquarius tends to dance to their own beat, and so things their own way. They are the rebels and the visionaries of the zodiac. I find this interesting for a fixed sign like Aquarius to be known as a rebel but if you think about fixed air it is something that is under a lot of pressure and eventually something has to give … and the thing that gives is the rebellion. Think of it another way: Capricorn represents the status quo in terms of structure and power … Aquarius comes along and wants to make things more accessible to everyone instead of letting the powerful have all the rewards. So Aquarius rebels with a humanitarian goal of helping everyone to be equal and to play on a level playing field.

Mercury makes a square to Uranus which is exact at 1:26 PM. This aspect reminds me of sudden inspiration. We are not sure where the inspiration came from but suddenly, out of the blue, lightening striking, but it is there and we can feel it. If you get a brilliant idea today jot it down to work out the details another time. This is a day for brainstorming and inspiration … the practical stuff can come another day.

The moon makes a square to Jupiter which peaks at 8:07 PM. Since the moon is so strongly tied to our moods and what brings us comfort this aspect with Jupiter who tends to make everything bigger, brings out a need in us to comfort ourselves with short term pleasures. This is the reason why a moon-Jupiter square often involves over-indulgence in food or drink, because we are trying to comfort ourselves, if only for a moment.

An essential oil to work with today is clary sage which does help to inspire us.

A great stone to work with today is azurite which helps to eliminate negativity. Try holding a piece in your hand and simply asking for any difficult thoughts to leave your mind.

Stop by Starlene's room today and wish her a Happy Birthday! Or a Happy Solar Return as we astrologers say! The solar return is the point where the sun is in exactly the same spot it was at the moment of your birth. So Happy Birthday, Starlene! You are an amazing woman, astrologer, reader and friend and I am very glad to know you! Love you – Nikki Rich

The moon moves into the sign of Gemini early this morning. This is where lady luna feels her most curious! If you find yourself questioning everything at this time, this is why. Gemini moon is a bit on the nervous side and moves quite swiftly. You could be a little scattered feeling because of this, if so just know this too shall pass.

The moon comes to a perfect square to Neptune at 6:09 PM. This has us feeling impressionable and maybe even a little gullible. It might be better to leave the decision making until another time under this transit.

A good stone to use today is clear quartz which is a stone of clarity and observation.

A good essential oil to use today is frankincense which allows our consciousness to access higher realms

Today the moon is in Aries all day today. This has us feeling a bit of independence and a desire to do things our own way. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and is a bit hard and hot headed so try not to let this be the theme of the day. Try a more relaxed and energetic approach, you will thank yourself later for it.

The only aspect the moon makes a trine to Saturn which exacts at 7:21 PM. This is a supportive aspect which allows us to feel grounded and stable. Putting some structure to your emotions, especially if they have been difficult for you lately is a great way to use this energy.

Ruby is an excellent gemstone to work with under the Aries moon, bringing out the vibrancy of lady luna.

A good essential oil for today is geranium which is gentle and balancing.

We have a very busy day in the stars and that will translate to a busy day ahead! We begin the day with the moon in dreamy, easy-going Pisces. The Pisces moon likes to feel a deeper, more spiritual connection to everything it experiences. One keyword for Pisces is “unity” so don't be surprised when you find that there are in fact a larger significance to what you experience. Einstein was a Pisces and his mission was to develop the “unified theory of everything” which is an incredibly Piscean goal.

The moon and Venus square each other which perfects at 1:54 AM. This is a subtle square … we may feel like having a late night snack … moon-Venus is known for her sweet tooth. But really if we do eat something we are sublimating our emotions and trying to process them through emotional eating instead.

The sun and Mercury conjoin at 9:05 AM and this is the halfway point of the Mercury retrograde cycle. From our perspective here on Earth the inner planets (Mercury and Venus) never get too far from the sun and appear to dance around it. So with Mercury and the sun dancing together today we should feel a sense of clarity and lightness. This is the divine spark. This is the moment of inspiration. This is, in a sense, nirvana.

The moon opposes Jupiter at 10:13 AM. This is another aspect that tends to make us overindulge if you aren't aware of what you are doing. The moon is strongly tied to creature comforts … food and drink, so when we have these aspects that enlarge our need for comfort the natural result is often overindulgence.

There is a sextile between the moon and Mercury which peaks at 11:09 AM. This aspect helps us feel more clarity once again, it is almost a repeat, on a more subtle scale, of the earlier sun-Mercury conjunction.

A few minutes later the sun and moon make a sextile at 11:31 AM. After this is moon goes void-of-course for about the next ten hours. I hope you took care of things this morning because the void-of-course moon is not really a good time to start new things. But it is good for finishing up previously started projects so that is what you can do this afternoon.

Mercury makes a trine to Jupiter at 9:15 PM which gives us the feeling that there is no limit to what we can imagine or achieve. Mercury-Jupiter often leads to philosophical thoughts or conversations so I would expect this aspect to bring that out in us today.

The moon enters Aries at 9:48 PM, finally ending that void-of-course moon. The moon in Aries is adventurous, independent and willing to take risks. Aries likes to forge their own path instead of taking a path that is already there, so enjoy!

A good stone to work with today is angelite which helps to balance and harmonize the physical body with the ethereal plane. This stone will help tune us into the Mercury aspects we have happening today with the sun, moon and Jupiter.

An essential oil to try working with today is sweet orange which helps us feel optimistic and brings out the kindness within us.

The moon is in sensitive Pisces all day, and comes to a conjunction to Neptune at 8:17 AM EST. This has us feeling not very motivated and a bit on the dreamy side. If you feel like relaxing this morning, its not just because it is Wednesday.. it is the vibe of the morning.

In the afternoon the moon comes to a square with Saturn at 4:06 PM EST. This has us feeling more disciplines and like we are ready to work – finally as the work day is basically starting to come to a close. Those of us that have the ability to work when we like, it might be better to work in the afternoon/evening than the morning time today.

The sun in Capricorn them comes to a harmonious trine to Jupiter in Virgo. This is a nice energy and can bring some expansion to our business opportunities. You will feel a bit more self-assured under this aspect that pretty much lasts all day.

The last aspect is when the moon comes to a sextile to Pluto at 9:13 PM EST. This has some intense feelings that might be buried deeply down, coming to the surface. This is not necessarily a bad thing but some action is asked to be taken under this transit. What are you feeling, why and what should you do with it in a healthy manner?

A good essential oil for today is Frankincense which elevates us and connects us to spiritual energy while also grounding and comforting us. This helps soothe the tense energies of the day and transform them into something higher.

We have a day long void-of-course moon today. We start with the moon in Aquarius and it does not enter Pisces until 6:53 PM eastern time so that is most of the day with the moon void-of-course. They say “nothing will come of it” referring to things started under the void-of-course moon, so today is best for finishing up old tasks and clearing out things that no longer serve us. These tasks are also good for the ongoing Mercury retrograde so we should be strongly emphasizing fixing old problems today instead of trying to find new problems!

When the moon does finally enter Pisces at 6:53 PM there is a subtle shift. Pisces isn't really a “go-getter” so this isn't a huge influx of energy … we are more likely to go with the flow and continue with the dominant energy of the day. Pisces is really the most easy going of all the signs.

Venus makes a lovely trine to Uranus which perfects at 7:11 PM. This is a really nice combination that makes us feel like doing something unusual … let's go dancing, or better yet let's dance around in our house and act really very silly! Just getting out of your regular routine will feel good. This is a combination that suggests a love interest, too, so if you put yourself out there you may be able to meet someone exciting tonight! But with Uranus in the picture this is likely a short term connection, but none-the-less fun!

A great stone to try working with today is apatite which helps to dissolve any aloofness or negativity.

An essential oil to try today is vetiver which aids us in attaining spiritual calmness and balance.